Helping new people start.
WHAT NEW PEOPLE NEED
What the organisation does Who everyone is How work happens here What they should do first Where to find things Who to ask
WHAT THEY DO NOT NEED IMMEDIATELY
Comprehensive detail about everything.
WHY
It cannot be absorbed and it is forgotten.
WHAT TO PROVIDE FIRST
A short guide to the first week.
WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN
Practical matters: access, equipment, hours
Who to meet One small task Where to ask questions
WHY A SMALL TASK
Doing something early builds confidence and reveals gaps.
WHAT TO WRITE DOWN THAT IS USUALLY VERBAL
Unwritten conventions Terminology and abbreviations Who owns what
WHY
It is what new people most struggle with and least like to ask about.
WHO SHOULD WRITE IT
The most recent starter.
WHY
They remember what confused them.
WHAT TO ASK EVERY NEW STARTER
What was unclear.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ANSWER
Add it.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether the material matches current practice.
WHAT TO AVOID
A long document written once and never updated.
WHAT TO MEASURE
How long until a new person is productive.
